By Yasmin Ramlan
SHAH ALAM, May 10 — To effectively attract young voters, Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) must understand and address the specific needs of youths in order to enhance their quality of life in Kuala Kubu Baharu, according to a political analyst.
Suffian Mansor from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) said this entails prioritising economic progress and guaranteeing favourable living standards.
During the final stretch of the two-week campaign period for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, Suffian voiced his confidence that the coalition is firmly on the right path, demonstrating significant efforts in helping the younger generation.
“Harapan needs to understand the hope of this group that wants better lives in Kuala Kubu Baharu. In this case, the focus should be on how Harapan and its candidate can bring economic development in Selangor to the residents in Kuala Kubu Baharu.
“This includes creating more job opportunities, comfortable housing, and other facilities that can improve residents’ quality of life,” he told the Selangor Journal recently.
The Selangor government under the Unity Government provides various initiatives for people in the state including B40 groups, senior citizens, the disabled (OKU), students, and young people, easing their burdens significantly.
On May 9, its Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari announced that hardcore poverty rate in the Hulu Selangor district has significantly declined, with fewer than 10 families in the group.
Amirudin said that this was achievable due to the state government’s welfare initiative, Bantuan Kehidupan Sejahtera Selangor (Bingkas), which has more than 1,000 quotas available for recipients.
Explaining further, Suffian emphasised the value of collaboration between the state and Federal Government to develop the town that is rich in cultural heritage aged over two centuries.
He pointed out that the collaboration will simultaneously benefit them in terms of healthcare, especially given that Health Minister Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad is from Selangor as well.
He said this collaborative effort aims to breathe new life into the town, enticing more young people to settle there, without feeling compelled to relocate to the Klang Valley solely in pursuit of a better quality of life.
“Harapan has indeed shown its determination to help the youth. This can be seen with the selection of candidates from among young people who show the aspirations of young people to lead and formulate plans for that group.
“Additionally, the Harapan’s manifesto underscores their unwavering commitment to provide employment opportunities to the people of Kuala Kubu Baharu,” he said.
The by-election is witnessing a four-cornered fight involving Pang Sock Tao from Harapan, Khairul Azhari Saut (Perikatan Nasional), Hafizah Zainuddin (Parti Rakyat Malaysia), and Nyau Ke Xin (Independent).
It was triggered following the death of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong, 58, on March 21 due to cancer. She had represented her constituency since 2013.
Tomorrow is polling day, while early voting was on May 7.
Engaging the NGOs
Meanwhile,Universiti Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections (UMcedel) Awang Azman Awang Pawi suggests the significance of engaging local young influencers in the Unity Government campaign strategy.
This involvement, whether through TikTok or other platforms, is particularly crucial for reaching fence-sitting voters.
He also echoed sentiments similar to Suffian’s, suggesting for Harapan to leverage collaborative efforts with the Federal government to foster the growth of Kuala Kubu Baharu. This includes enhancing healthcare access, addressing local housing issues, improving infrastructure, and promoting economic prosperity for the locals.
“Hence, the role of candidate and party machinery is essential to provide realistic explanations about the manifesto, aligning with the actual demands of Kuala Kubu Baharu voters.
“This task is better suited by Harapan-friendly NGOs, as many young people are less concerned with political parties,” he said.
Making it easier to vote
Speaking to Selangor Journal, young locals suggest that initiatives such as providing travel allowances or enabling remote voting to encourage voting participation are effective in increasing voter turnout.
One of them, who wants to be known as Annie, said that in the previous elections, there were some organisations that helped voters to get a passage home to vote.
She suggested that this approach could be adopted by the state government to motivate voters, particularly those in the Klang Valley, to cast their votes, given that toll fares and petrol expenses may be significant concerns for them.
“There will also be a carnival held on May 10 and 11. I believe this is a good way to attract voters to return, not only to cast their vote, but also enjoy their time here,” said the 27-year-old teacher, who anticipated that the carnival will showcase various types of food and entertainment.
Another local resident, Norfazalina Mohamad Yusoff, 23, echoed similar sentiments, expressing concern that many might choose not to return home from the city to Kuala Kubu Baharu solely to cast their votes.
“If they live far from here, it would incur transportation and other expenses, making it difficult for them to return home just to vote. Unless they are provided with travel assistance,” she said.
Job opportunities, facilities
When asked why there aren’t many young locals choosing to stay in Kuala Kubu Baharu, Norfazalina, who works as a food operator assistant, explained that there are greater job opportunities outside of town. She pointed out that Kuala Lumpur is only 60 kilometres away, making it an attractive option for employment.
“It’s not that there are no job opportunities here for young people at all, but the options are primarily limited to government offices, which mainly employ older individuals, and to factory-related jobs,” she said.
Industrial areas near to Kuala Kubu Baharu are Bukit Beruntung and Sungai Choh in Rawang, approximately 30 kilometres away each.
However, both of them emphasised the significance of enhancing healthcare facilities in Kuala Kubu Baharu, particularly for critical illnesses. They believe that this improvement would not only cater to the local community’s needs but will also attract more young adults to stay in the town.
Annie expressed her hope that whoever wins the by-election will prioritise the development of an entertainment venue in the town.
“As a young adult, I want to enjoy some entertainment like going to karaoke or the cinema. As for now, most of us here will commute to the closest one which is at Aeon Rawang, which is about a one-hour drive from here.
“Perhaps this too can attract young people to stay here,” she said.
Meanwhile, Burhanuddin Mat Salleh, 28, a shop assistant, believes that other essential amenities such as a larger morning market and a supermarket for groceries would be crucial, making it more convenient for young people to consider residing there.
“There should be more car workshops and hardware shops in Kuala Kubu Baharu so that we don’t have to travel far to access these needs,” he said.
These young adults emphasised that their decision to vote is mainly influenced by factors such as party manifestos, key issues, and offers, regardless of the political party. According to them, the main concern is whether the candidate can foster economic growth and improve the livelihoods of Kuala Kubu Baharu residents.
“I personally believe that as a young adult, it’s quite possible to live comfortably in Kuala Kubu Baharu even with an income ranging from RM1,500 to RM2,500,” said a 29-year-old Muhammad Sulaiman Alwy.
Muhammad Sulaiman, a full-time vendor, shared that he used to work in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur, but returned home when his employer decided to relocate the company outside of KL.
As the youngest of six siblings, he mentioned that his decision to return home was also influenced by the need to take care of his sick mother.
In the last state election in August last year, Lee won the seat with a 4,119 majority, garnering 14,862 total votes against PN’s Teoh Kien Hong (10,743 votes), Muda’s R. Siva Prakash (1,186 votes), and PRM’s Chng Boon Lai (527 votes).
